Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Fierce fighting has erupted between rival factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Longechuk County of South Sudan Upper Nile state, a senior opposition official there has just told Sudans Post.
The fighting, the official said, begun when forces belonging to former opposition commander, Maj. Gen. Khor Chuol Giet, went deep to attack some areas in Longechuk under the control of the SPLA-IO faction allied First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, sparking the clash.
“Some junior officers allied to General Khor Chuol went and attacked out forces in Longechuk County and this resulted in a response by our forces and this is the cause of the fighting which I can said has just ended as I speak,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
But in a statement, Payam administrators for Malou, Jongjith and Wechlual, accused the SPLA-IO under Machar of standing behind the renewed clashes in the area saying SPLM-IO-nominated commissioner of Longechuk County had ordered attack on the three Payams.
“Dak Tut Dey, the Commissioner of Longechuk County, has just ordered SPLA IO Forces under Maj. Gen. Pal Gatkuoth and Brig. Gen. Nhial Gatchay to attack our 3 Payams who have declared their support to His Excellency President Kiir and SPLM. We are ready to defend ourselves and our people,” they said in the statement extended to Sudans Post.
“This war monger Dak Tut Dey and torturer who tortured and ordered James Guek Ruot to get the phone of the Commissioner, which felt inside the toilet to get it out, must be brought to book. People of Longechuk have enough of him,” they lamented.
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